MANILA, Philippines - IMAX Corp. and The Walt Disney Studios, a division of bThe Walt Disney Company, recently announced that the live-action Cinderella — directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Cate Blanchett as the Stepmother and Lily James in the timeless title role — was digitally re-mastered into the IMAX format and is now showing in IMAX and 2D theaters.
Cinderella was written by Chris Weitz and produced by Simon Kinberg, Allison Shearmur and David Barron. Tim Lewis served as executive producer.
“Based on the timeless classic, Cinderella now is a visually breath-taking live-action gem from the hugely-talented Kenneth Branagh, with whom we’re thrilled to partner again, as well as the wonderful team at Disney,“ said Greg Foster, senior executive VP of IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “Having been fortunate to see the movie several weeks ago, we believe Cinderella will resonate with movie-goers from around the globe, and we can’t wait to share it with IMAX audiences worldwide.”
Cinderella brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.
The story follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her.
And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham Carter) steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella’s life forever.